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Old Apr 22, 2012 | 9:41 am
  #398  
kt74
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold (and other non-status plastic)
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So, Aegean... what's the catch?
Okidoki, so I sat down with a big fat spreadsheet last night and worked out which *A programme was best for me, assuming that OW cannot fully meet my needs. Yes, I know I'm sad

Whichever way I look at it, A3 is coming out tops right now. Funnily enough, not because of the 20k *G, but because it offers the best combination of earning (200% premium classes incl discount C) and burning (only TK is cheaper for EU-Asia in C class, and it is the same price as TK and UA for EU-Oz/NZ). TK came a close second, and UA was a surprise third. Put it this way, I'd happily be status matched into any of these (HINT!)

So, what's the catch? Would love to hear any recent experiences from other Diamond Club defectees to Aegean. Is anyone concerned about their financial position and/or does anyone think the current generous earn rates will be enhanced in the near future?

Incidentally, to summarise other programmes I looked at, in approximate order of attractiveness:
  • TK has excellent burn rates on TK metal, but only 150% credit in C, vs 200% on A3 (albeit UA W scores only 50% on A3)
  • UA is more attractive than i remembered, with OK earn (lots of variation - discount C on LX for 175% was a nice little outlier) and good burn rates, but the US lounge access issue negates the additional benefits of US domestic travelling (upgrades, etc)
  • SK has good earning (well, maybe - it's totally unclear on the website, and I'm hardly going to, say, spend £2k on an OS business class ticket if earning is, umm, either 100% or 200% - and you seem to get only 100% for SQ/OZ/TK C class), but the burning is awful, and imminent "enhancements" are promised
  • The Asian programmes (NH, OZ, SQ and TG) are terrible for earn and burn, which offsets the benefit of easy *G (TG/OZ), DJ/MI recognition (SQ) and earning on QR/EY (NH/OZ)
  • AC has rubbish earn rates, and *G will get harder next year
  • NZ is clearly optimised for long, long distance travellers, and generally not great for earning
  • M&M is getting devalued left, right and centre - esp for earning on discount premium fares. 100k for SEN also not amusing
  • JJ and US, I'm assuming will end up in OW sooner or later
  • The SA website wasn't working
  • By the time I got to ET, I was yawning, but it didn't seem particularly special

Have I missed anything?
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